Koji Murata, the president of Doshisha University in Kyoto Prefecture who drew flak in July for supporting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe¡¯s security legislation, has lost his bid for re-election.
The university said Friday that Murata, 51, a political science professor, will be replaced as president by Takashi Matsuoka, a 60-year-old professor of materials engineering, next April 1 when Murata¡¯s term ends.
The number of votes for each candidate was not disclosed. Around 930 teachers and administrative staff members were eligible to cast ballots.
Murata became a subject of heated controversy in July when, appearing before a Lower House committee as one of four scholars recommended by the ruling parties to offer expert opinions, said the security legislation is necessary to maintain Japan¡¯s security.
More than 80 professors and other faculty members at the university signed a petition denouncing Murata¡¯s comments, saying they were ¡°ashamed.¡±
Matsuoka was one of the faculty members who signed the petition.
The petition statement also emphasized that the president¡¯s opinion is personal and that it does not represent the university¡¯s official stance.
Matsuoka will be officially appointed president at a meeting of the university¡¯s board of trustees on Nov. 28.
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